patsox23

Seems to me it's possible, even likely, that the Patriots will lose at LEAST one of Seau and Bruschi. Furthermore, all of the key LBs currently on the Pats roster are 30+, Adalius included. Are the Thomases, Vrabels, Colvins, etc... still capable of solid contribution? I think so. But, given their age, and their relative good health so far this season, the odds are pretty good that some breakdown is around the corner for at least one of them. In other words, it's time to address this position with top-drawer assets - $$$ and high-end draft picks.

I think for sure. I think it's more likely than any other development that the Patriots' braintrust will seek to get younger at LB - in free agency AND in the draft. Karlos Dansby? I'd take a chance, 'though I suspect they might not, since he has a history of being injured. Victor Hobson? Maybe so. Worth a look. In the draft there seem to be quite a few options, and we are well-positioned to land at least one of the elite NCAA linebackers, come April. I'd say, even with the possibility of bringing in an FA LB or two, the Patriots will need - maybe desperately - to draft a young, playmaking LB, if not more than one.

Setting aside all the "Maroney" talk - PLEASE - can we agree that, however we feel about McFadden, there are more important issues to address with our good fortune (i.e., the SF plummet)? And, buying that practically undeniable premise, can we talk about what %age FA-to-draft pick we can presume, and which LBs currently playing might be worth considering in the FA and draft classes of 2008?

gomezcat

I think that we are looking at a FA pick up. I agree that Bru and Seau can't carry on much beyond this season. It would take a sensational college player to be drafted and they don't seem to exist. OK, someone like Dan Connor is good, but not a fit for 3-4. He is too light and rarely has to fight off OLs.

__________________
The blog of our recent trip to The States (September and October 2012):


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Hollywood_Brady

i want karlos dansby... he is heading towards the prime of his football career next season... but he is gonna cost a lot of dough to bring him to the pats... i'll keep dreaming instead, but i dreamt of adalius thomas and randy moss going to the pats and looked what happened...

__________________
Stronger than ever...

RobAllan

I think you can raid guys from teams who have complex schemes, as they've already proven to have a good combination of intelligence and instincts. So I don't know what the FA situations are with teams like the Bears and Ravens, but I'd be keeping an eye on the LBs for those types of teams.

gomezcat

Very good point. I'll be honest and admit that there is no way I would have thought either would end up with the Pats.

__________________
The blog of our recent trip to The States (September and October 2012):


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

patsox23

There have been several college LBs that Belichick would've drafted, but didn't. This is well-documented, so I hope we won't veer into the "BB doesn't draft LBs" lane.

RayClay

Great Oogly Moogly. I've given up on figuring how the Pats intend to get younger at LB, (at least to make it another 4-5 years), but there's the draft or under 30 free agents.

The only other option is a walking Cryogenics program for Bru and Seau.

__________________

RayClay

And you know this how? I don't think he tells people who he "would have" drafted, I think this is speculation.

__________________

Hollywood_Brady

i'll also be dreaming of chad johnson, jason taylor, deangelo hall and lamont jordan and lets see where that takes us...

__________________
Stronger than ever...

AzPatsFan

Living in Phoenix I have the chance to see Karlos Dansby play. He was sitting there when the Pats had a pick and I htought the Pats were going to draft him. Instead we picked a TE Ben Watson, who has become a star, and the Cards picking, next took Dansby at the first pick in the second round.

Now he is a free agent, and has produced. Plus he has the athletic talent and SIZE Belichick likes in his LBs at 6-4, 245#. He si also versatile having played both OLB and ILB. The only question is if he is cerebral enough to fit into the Pats defense. I would think he is the likeliest LB FA import.

The age in the Pat's LB core is concentrated in two players. Seau and Bruschi. All the others are still in their primes at right around thirty and have several years of NFL career remaining. I could even see the Pats eeking out another year with the five-to-play=four positions of Seau, Tedy, AD, Rosey, and Vrabes, along with developing Pierre Woods, as a sixth. This squad is even younger than the makeup of the 2004 squad, I beleive. Although Seau, a future HOF is older, but a part-timer even now, so he is not called on to play continously, and can pace himself.

There is no doubt that one or more will need replacement within the next two years.